I never saw him play. He died 2 months and 2 days after I was born. But from the time I first knew about his exploits on a ballfield, he was who I wanted to be like.
In many ways we had the same type of youth. I was put in foster care at 10. He went to a home at age 7. Only difference was he was considered incorrigible, and I was simply a burden on my mom.
We were both left handed. He started out as a catcher, I played the outfield. Later I moved to 1st base.